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 We would like to say a big thank you to all those, near and far, who took part in the
slightly mad development of the Compendium, Volume 2, project.

Thank you to the Monolith team for your help and support in producing this booklet.
A huge thank you to Fred Henry for your generosity and support, and for taking the
time to explain the «THS versus» system in an article that we ordinary mortals could
understand (more or less).

Thank you to Cl4renko for the magnificent cover illustration.

Thanks to Martin Grandbarbe and Stéphane N’Guyen for the time spent producing
the painting and sculpture guides.

Thanks to Pallantides and Not Quite Dead for writing for us.
Thanks too, to the scenario writers on the forum who responded when we first talked
about writing the campaign. Thank you to everyone, on the forum and elsewhere, who
came forward to help write, proofread and test the scenarios presented in this booklet.

Finally, a special thank you to the readers and players who follow and support us every
day by keeping the forum active, without whom nothing would ever have seen the light
of day.

L’équipe The Overlord.

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 Contents

Campaign scenarios p. 4-25

Introduction to the campaign p. 4
Prologue p. 5
Dark Stone Dream (difficulty: 2) p. 6
Wait, let’s talk! (difficulty: 1) p. 8
Night Excursion (difficulty: 2) p. 10
Thog and Thak (difficulty: 1) p. 12
Waking Nightmare (difficulty: 2) p. 14
Inevitable Destiny (difficulty: 2) p. 16
Bloody Scum (difficulty: 2) p. 18
Great Sacrifice (difficulty: 2) p. 20
Between Two Worlds (difficulty: 2) p. 22
The Black Staff (difficulty: 2) p. 24

Bonus scenarios p. 26-29

Terror in Ankatia (difficulty: 2) p. 26
Murky Waters (difficulty: 1) p. 28

Articles and stories p. 30-52

How to make a monster : Thog sculpture step-by-step by Stephane N’Guyen p. 30
Part of the Host story by Not Quite Dead p. 36
Painting guide: Thog by Martin Grandbarbe p. 39
THS: from adventure mode to versus mode by Fred Henry p. 46
Thog by Pallantides p. 52

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 introduction to the campaign

In the pages that follow, you will find a short campaign made especially for this second volume of The
Overlord compendium by the members of the forum, whose plot ends with the heroes fighting the
monstrous Thog.
This campaign for 3 players, requiring the king box and the stretch-goals, was co-created in parallel so that
each author was free to develop each scenario as they wished, without a predetermined plot.
You can play three or four scenarios in succession, with the sequence determined by the victory or defeat of
the two heroes in each scenario as follows:

- Introductory scenario: Dark Stone Dream.

If the heroes win play scenario 2 next.
If the Overlord wins play scenario 3.

- Scenario n°2: Wait, let’s talk!

If the heroes win play scenario 4.
If the Overlord wins play scenario 5.

- Scenario n°3: Night Excursion.

If the heroes win play scenario 6.
If the Overlord wins play scenario 7.

- Scenario n°4: Thog and Thak.

Or
- Scenario n°5: Waking Nightmare.
Or
- Scenario n°6: Inevitable Destiny.
End of the campaign, if the heroes win - congratulations!
If the Overlord wins, beware, an unspeakable horror is about to be unleashed upon the world.

- Scenario n°7: Bloody Scum.

If the heroes win play scenario 8.
If the Overlord wins play scenario 9.

- Scenario n°8: Great Sacrifice.

Ou
- Scenario n°9: Between Two Worlds.
End of the campaign, if the heroes win - congratulations!
If the Overlord wins, know that nothing seems able to stop this horrible creature from
joining our world.

Once done, you can play scenario 10 of the campaign:

The Black Staff, which will shed some light on the story.

Bonus scenarios :

Finally, here you will find two more original scenarios, independent of the campaign:
Terror in Ankatia and Murky Waters, both for 4 players.

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 prologue

Pelias looked up from the ancient writings he had been poring over for hours in the
flickering, tallow candlelight. His vision had become hazy with fatigue. Despite his best
efforts to find his way around the archives of the Great Library of Tarantia, the mage
had found no mention of the strange fragment of dark stone that sat on the desk before
him, in amongst the grimoires and parchments covered with hermetic glyphs. Recovered
from the buried ruins of some old forgotten kingdom, the artifact discovered by Taurus
seemed to be a small piece of a finely carved object. Perhaps it was a medallion, the head
of a scepter or even a part of a crown. The material was striking; like onyx, but it reacted
to the candlelight in a most disconcerting way, seeming to absorb the light more than
reflect it.

Perplexed, the wizard felt this was a mystery worth looking into. He would have to talk
to the master thief to get a better idea of where the ruins explored by the Nemedian
actually were. With his heightened senses he could perceive its magic fields, clearly
seeing what had remained hidden to the eyes of men of lesser lineage. It was already
coveted far and wide if the rumors that had reached the ears of the Prince of Thieves
were true but, over and above its value, the wizard was convinced that the stone was
hiding some incredible power.

Without a doubt its mysterious origin was proving to be quite a challenge. He was going
to have to do more research and maybe even be willing to leave the tranquil crypts of
Knowledge and once again brave those uncomfortable dusty roads that at first seem
familiar yet never end up quite where you expect...

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 3 Dark Stone Dream
When Pelias reopened his eyes, he was surprised to see that the parchment cluttered shelves had given way to darkness. With a brief
incantation, his staff began to glow softly, pushing back the moving shadows. He could make out the contours of a vast courtyard
surrounded by tall towers and walls adorned with delicate cryptic car vings representing strangely dressed men busy cultivating what
looked like lotus flowers. Then the wizard heard inhuman screams that reverberated around the darkened halls. By what curse had he
been brought to this dank, tomb-like place? He needed to escape.
As he was considering which spell might get him out of this predicament a massive silhouette silently sprang out of the penumbra.
Pelias immediately recognized the cat-like gait of the bearded giant. The mage had to admit he was relieved to have the Prince of
Thieves at his side, not least because the blade of the Nemédien was as trusty as his word.
"Pelias? What is this place? I could have sworn I had just fallen asleep with a jug of ale in one hand and the breast of an Ophirian
whore in the other."
"I cannot say, my friend. I was in the process of studying some ancient grimoires to tr y and discover the exact nature of that dark
stone you entrusted to me when..."
The two men looked at each other, suddenly struck by the same realization.
"Could we be dreaming?"
"If that is the case, we need to wake up from this nightmare. I have a feeling that the answer to this riddle is in one way or another
connected to the stone you gave me and the ruins where it was found."

Objectives
If the heroes leave the nightmare before the end of turn 12, the heroes win the game. In order to wake up they
must pass through all 6 red doors. Passing through a door (requiring one movement point, like crossing a border)
gradually dissipates the nightmare and brings the hero back to the central area with the campfire. The door is
then removed from the board. The last door completely dispels the nightmare and the two heroes wake up. They
can also eliminate doors using the Oneiric Compass.
If the Overlord prevents the heroes from leaving the nightmare, or kills one of the two heroes, the Overlord wins
the game.

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 The game start with The heroes' turn.
Pelias (mitra's staff, dagger et 3 spell(s) : Set's Halo, Lightning Strike, Mental Control)
Taurus (turanian sword, parrying dagger)
After setup, the Heroes move 5 gem(s) from her Reserve zone to her Fatigue zone.

The Overlord starts with 8 gems in their Reserve zone and 0 in their Fatigue zone, and places the recovery token showing a recovery
value of 5 in the Book of Skelos.

Propagation of Darkness : The Overlord adds 2 areas of darkness (tentacles), each of which must be adjacent to an already
darkened area, ignoring all obstacles. The tentacles are placed at the end of the turn track.
Doors of the Unconscious : Pelias struggles with the force trying to manipulate his mind. The Overlord can place 3 reinforcement
tokens in any of the darkened areas. The Overlord places 4 models for each skeleton tile and 3 models for each mummy tile.
Unused models are placed next to the board.

The Golem appears in the central area of the

​the campfire on turn 5. Its tile is then added to the end of the river.

Special rules
Area of Darkness : Designated by a tentacle model, that acts only as a marker on the map, these areas represent the
influence of the dark stone creeping into the heroes' minds. Place the tentacles on Numbers 1 to 10 of the turn track. At the
start of each turn, the Overlord places an area of darkness on the map, adjacent to an existing area, ignoring any obstacle. A
maximum of 10 areas can be darkened. These areas generate 1 point of hindrance.
Chests : During setup, the Overlord places 3 chests on the board as indicated by the setup diagram. In order of opening:
opening: the
first chest contains 1 Leather Armor and 1 Explosive Orb, the second contains the Oneiric Compass, represented by 1 Stygian
Artifact, and 1 Explosive Orb, the last chest contains 2 Life Potions.
Oneiric Compass : This can be activated by Pelias once per turn. He can then remove one of the doors (with or without line
of sight). If it is the last one, the heroes wake up and win the game. The first activation requires 2 gems. Each subsequent
activation increases the cost by one gem. Gems thus spent are placed directly into the Wound zone. zone.
Mitra's Staff : With this Pelias can dispel the darkness in his area for one gem. The tentacle returns to the end of the track.
Limit: 3.
Leap : Given the height of the walls of the dreamlike citadel, it is impossible to leap from the ramparts.
Rock Slides : In the absence of the Climb skill, entering a rock slide area requires 2 additional movement points.
Mind Control : Official reminder: for one gem, the caster moves the target 2 areas. Limit: 3 gems.

Anathematique, Arzok, Dweller, Kaelung, Tanghar

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 3 Wait, let’s talk!
The rumors of the Prince of Thieves’ return were well founded. Always on the look-out for relics on behalf of my masters, the Black
Prophets, it was hard to ignore the exploits of this man they called Taurus. Once informed of his whereabouts, I went to meet the
Nemedien in the flea-infested lodgings where he was staying. My Masters were not shor t on means so I knew I was almost certain to be
able to acquire any object from his plunder without needing to haggle. Prudence being in order, however, I took care to hire a stout
swordsman and a few bodyguards for the occasion and, with plenty of money at my fingertips, I also bribed some city guards to stand
watch in and around the inn.
As I had suspected, Taurus was overwhelmed by the amount I offered to pay for his stolen hoard and sold me everything he had. We
celebrated our prosperous deal by quaffing wine and singing songs which incited a most provocative dance from Taurus’ maiden.
What then ensued is not very clear in my mind. Snoring, drunk with alcohol, Taurus woke up suddenly, and roared wildly:
"By Bel! Pelias, I sold him the staff that your cursed stone was attached to!"
I do not know to whom he was talking, as half of his words were incomprehensible, but he began swearing by the demons of Set,
threating me physically and ordering me to return the staff he had just sold me. The time had come for me to take my leave ...

Objectives
If the heroes get the Black Staff and leave the inn (reach the area with the green arrow) by the end of turn 10
when the militia arrives, the heroes win the game.

If the merchant, Khemsa, manages to leave the inn (reach the area with the green arrow) with the Black Staff or if
both heroes are in passive stance at the same time, the Overlord wins the game.

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 The game start with The heroes' turn.
Taurus (leather armor, tribal mace, life potion)
Savage Belit (leather armor, pirate saber, dagger, life potion)
After setup, the Heroes move 0 gem(s) from her Reserve zone to her Fatigue zone.

The Overlord starts with 6 gems in their Reserve zone and 4 in their Fatigue zone, and places the recovery token showing a recovery
value of 5 in the Book of Skelos.

Reinforcements : 4 reinforcement points enable knocked-out guards to be revived, at the price of one point per guard. No tile
may have more than 5 models associated with it at one time

6 1 4

Special rules
Table : A character with or without Leap or Climb may move onto the bar areas or a table area by spending 1 extra movement
point. These areas provide an Elevation bonus of .
Stool/Chair/Bench : In a Melee or Ranged attack on a guard, heroes may use a stool / chair / bench. The target guard is
then automatically knocked down and the stool / chair / bench is removed from the board after the attack. Heroes can only
carry one of these items at a time.
Overwhelmed by the guards : At the beginning of their turn, if a hero is alone with at least 4 hostile figures in his area,
he is forced to recover. A recovering hero cannot be attacked by an Overlord model.
Spare the guards! : Taurus and Belit don’t want to kill the guards. When a guard suffers an attack intended to kill, they are
considered "knocked out" and their model is placed on its side and henceforth excluded from any other rules.
Khemsa, the merchant : Cannot attack or be attacked. He can only move into an area containing a model of an ally. He
cannot leap from the balcony / stairs. If he finds himself alone with one (or more) heroes in an area at any time, he can
immediately flee by moving 1 area (regardless of hindrance), provided that this movement brings him into an area containing
at least one non-"knocked-out" ally. If he cannot flee, he surrenders the Black Staff to the heroes. His model is then removed
from the board and his tile is placed facedown at the end of the river. The Protected skill cannot be used in the presence of
Khemsa.

Moavoa

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 3 Night Excursion
"So we had the same sinister nightmare!" Pelias concluded. Taurus nodded in agreement, his nose in a mug of beer. The rattling of
rusting chain mail and the shuffling of mummified feet still rung in his ears. He shuddered at the dark memor y, but this did not slow
his drinking.
The two companions had slipped into one of the alcoves of the now crowded inn, the noise of the other patrons drowned out their
conversation.
"The skeletons were wearing armor from the ancient Acheron empire, of that I am sure," the wizard continued.
"That would not surprise me," said Taurus. "I took the stone from under the noses of a group of mercenaries who were looking for
something within the ruins of the shrine. They are staying in an old fort south of Shamar, accompanied by a Kushite sorcerer."
"Kushite? If I am right, this stone is but a fragment of some sort of sacred amulet. Apar t, each element is of little wor th, but together,
they bestow the holder with great power. If my theor y is correct, the wizards of Acheron would have forged this amulet to control
cer tain monsters prowling on the fringes of our dimension. I do not know who sent this Kushite and his minions, but he is not there
by chance. Most certainly his goal is to get his hands on an artifact that is capable of meddling with the most powerful of minds."
"This artifact, what would it be wor th exactly?"
“Far more than even your drunk mind can imagine.”
"By Bel! We should leave now and find a way to plunder this abandoned fort!"

Objectives
If one of the heroes seizes the Stygian Artifact and leaves by any chosen exit before the end of turn 12, the heroes
win the game.
If the Overlord prevents the heroes from leaving with the Stygian Artifact; the Overlord wins the game.
Setup note: Ageera, captain, blue and red guard models are placed on their sides on the board. Prepare a skeleton
'Sacrifice skill' tile for Pelias.
The asterisks on the map correspond to the lit areas (torch and brazier). They are not necessary.

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 The game start with The Overlord's turn.
Pelias (mitra's staff, dagger et 3 spell(s) : Yajur's Awakening, Magic Block, Stone Skin) and 2 Summoned Skeletons.
Taurus (turanian sword, parrying dagger, throwing knives)
After setup, the Heroes move 0 gem(s) from her Reserve zone to her Fatigue zone.

The Overlord starts with 3 gems in their Reserve zone and 0 in their Fatigue zone, and places the recovery token showing a recovery
value of 5 in the Book of Skelos.

Night Watch : Two orange guards can move one area.

Sleepless Night : One of the four guards on the day shift cannot sleep and moves 1 or 2 areas.
Destiny Calls : The Overlord may draw the first three cards in the asset deck and place them back on top in whichever order they
like.
Sixth Sense : Single event: Ageera or the Captain wake up with a start. Their tile comes into play.
End of Watch : Night watch members return to base. 3 reinforcement points for the eliminated units.

4 5

Special rules
Overlord River : At the start, the Overlord only has the Event tile (activated twice per turn) and three gems. The other tiles
are gradually added to the end of the river. The Overlord collects 5 more gems following the alarm.
Alarm : The alarm is raised if any of the following occurs :
. As soon as a hero or skeleton enters a lit area (indicated by an * on the map) and is in the field of vision of an awake
character of the Overlord, who does not succumb not to an immediate attack..
. At the beginning of turn 5, when Ageera wakes up from a premonition.
only, Archers, Ageera. The Overlord adds 5 available
The Overlord’s tiles are added in the following order: Orange Guards only,
Sleeping guards : The captain, the red and blue guards are the day watch and are asleep, exhausted. Their tiles come into
play if an ally knocks loudly at the door (by spending 1 gem). This action is only possible after the alarm is raised.
Chests : During setup, the Overlord places 5 chests on the board as indicated by the setup diagram. 2 items are drawn for the
first 4 chests. The last one will be empty. The asset deck contains: 1 Stygian Artifact, 1 Shield, 1 Chain Mail, 2 Life Potions, 2
Explosive Orbs, 1 Ring. Picking the lock on a chest or door in front of the sleeping Ageera, captain or guards, requires two extra
successes at the Manipulation. Failure causes awakening and immediate alarm.
Doors : Crossed without movement penalty for the Overlord, a hero in an area adjacent to a door can perform a complex
Manipulation with a difficulty of 2 to pick the lock. If the hero succeeds, remove the door from the board.
Hidden in the shadows : The areas without braziers or torches are plunged into darkness; any active characters are
invisible as long as the alarm is not raised, and they are not affected by hindrance.

Flabi & Arzok

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 3 Thog and Thak
"You took your time, my boy!" Pelias growled.
"I did what I could," Taurus grumbled. "Remind me again why I have to put my hand into the mouth of a demon, right up to the
shoulder?"
"Because I have to master the magical ar ts to use the Black Staff! Stop complaining! I've slowed down the summoning which should give
us enough time; but we must act swiftly!"
From the rampar ts, Thak the man-ape, obser ved the two jabbering strangers approaching. He thought about using this abandoned
for tress as a refuge, but two hours earlier, a woman accompanied by slaves and a guard of undead warriors had taken over the place.
Now this boney old man and his big, bearded companion arrived. The primitive instincts of Thak the man-ape shifted momentarily
between fight and flight until a primal urge to defend his territor y prevailed. He would chase all these intruders away!

Objectives
If the heroes reduce Thog's health to zero and successfully complete the Banishment Ritual before the end of turn
15, the heroes win the game.

If the Overlord protects Thog until the end of turn 15 or kills one of the two heroes, the Overlord wins the game.

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 The game start with The heroes' turn.
Taurus (crossbow, leather armor, dagger, life potion)
Pelias (black staff, dagger, life potion et 2 spell(s) : Teleportation, Lethal Cloud)
After setup, the Heroes move 0 gem(s) from her Reserve zone to her Fatigue zone.

The Overlord starts with 6 gems in their Reserve zone and 5 in their Fatigue zone, and places the recovery token showing a recovery
value of 5 in the Book of Skelos.

Possession : Akivasha uses her dark magic to take control of Thak. Until the end of the turn the Overlord uses Thak as if he were
controlled normally, making attacks and moves like any other tile in the river.

4 14

Special rules
Thak : The Thak tile is placed next to the river. At the end of each of the Overlord's turns, Thak moves his base movement
value towards the nearest model (ignoring the bound Picts). As soon as he is in the same area as another model, he attacks
it. In case of multiple options during the movement or the attack, Thak targets the models of the Overlord first (the Overlord
selecting one if there are several models) and then those of the heroes (if they are the same distance from Thak the heroes
choose which). Thak generates hindrance for, and is hindered by, all other models.
Sacrifices : A Pict is attached to each pillar to serve as a sacrificial victim to hasten the coming of Thog. If Akivasha finishes
her turn on a square containing a Pictish Hunter, they are sacrificed and the turn track advances by two turns. As long as all
the Picts are on the board, Thog cannot escape the lethargy of his summoning and so cannot act.
Pillars : The runic pillars in the four corners of the fortress are needed for the Thog summoning ritual. Only Pelias armed with
the Black Staff can destroy a pillar using a difficulty 3 complex Manipulation. If they are still alive, the Picts attached to them
flee and are removed from the board. Each destroyed pillar causes Thog to lose 2 life points.
By the power of Mitra! : The ritual to banish Thog requires Taurus to drive the dark stone fragment into the monster's
mouth, so that he swallows it, while Pelias paralyzes him with the power of the Black Staff. Players must reduce Thog's life
points to zero. Then Pelias and Taurus, on the same square as Thog, must both succeed a difficulty 2 complex Manipulation. If
not Taurus takes a Wound with each failure. If they succeed, Thog is banished and the heroes win the game!
Rush of Hope : When destroying a pillar, the two life points removed from Thog are transferred to the players equally, each
character's controller moves 1 gem from the Wound zone to the Energy zone.

Baron Mundus & Tet2brick

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 3 Waking Nightmare
In pursuit of the merchant to take back the sacred staff, Bêlit is ambushed and handed over to the Dark Sorcerer to be sacrificed to
Thog. When their friend does not return, Taurus and Pelias star t to worr y and decide to go looking for her. Suddenly, Pelias has a vision
of the young woman chained to the sacrificial altar of an abandoned village on stilts in the middle of a putrid swamp.
"Make haste Taurus, I know where Bêlit is," exclaimed Pelias, "there is not a moment to lose!"
Some hours later the two heroes reach the village and see Bêlit chained, naked and unconscious on the sacrificial altar, with the Dark
Sorcerer at her side chanting a series of unholy rites.
"Too late," Pelias laments, "the summoning is too advanced to be stopped, but freeing our friend should make the creature less
power ful."
Gathering their courage and strength, Taurus and Pelias launch themselves into the village, determined to free their friend and send the
abomination back to the outer dark from whence it came."

Objectives
If the heroes eliminate Thog by the end of turn 10; the heroes win the game.

If the Overlord keeps Thog alive until the end of turn 10 or kills the heroes; the Overlord wins the game.

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 The game start with The Overlord's turn.
Pelias (sword, life potion et 4 spell(s) : Withering, Mitra's Healing, Lethal Cloud, Putrescence)
Taurus (turanian sword, leather armor, life potion)
After setup, the Heroes move 3 gem(s) from her Reserve zone to her Fatigue zone.

The Overlord starts with 12 gems in their Reserve zone and 6 in their Fatigue zone, and places the recovery token showing a recovery
value of 4 in the Book of Skelos.

Reinforcement : 4 reinforcement points.

Ritual Sacrifice : If no heroes are present in his area, the Sorcerer moves along the stone pontoon of his choice for free and
spends 2 gems to sacrifice the 3 blue mummies. The time required to summon Thog is reduced by 1 turn. This event can only be
played once per game.

Equipped with : sacrifical dagger, stygian artefact Spells : Energy Drain, Set's Bite

Special rules
Water areas : A character must spend 1 extra movement point to move out of a water area. A character can move from a
water area to an adjacent wood area by spending 2 extra movement points.
Leap : The difficulty of each leap is indicated on the setup diagram. It is not possible to leap over the central water area
around the altar in one go. An intermediate stop on the altar is required.
Stygian Artifact : The Stygian Artifact protects against Thog’s Horror skill. As soon as the Sorcerer is killed, a hero can pick it
up and benefit from its weapon bonus.
Sacrificial Dagger : The Dark Sorcerer has a sacrificial dagger (the weapon's dice are added to those indicated on the tile).
Bêlit : Bêlit is chained to the altar and does not influence hindrance. To release her, a hero must be in the area and perform a
difficulty 3 complex Manipulation (Taurus can use his Lock-picking skill). If they succeed, she flees.
Summoning of Thog : Thog comes into play at the beginning of Turn 5 on the altar. Put his tile (Intangible skill) in
position 3 on the River. If Bêlit has not been freed, Thog has 7 Life Points (remove the model of Bêlit). If it she was freed
before the summoning, Thog has only 5 Life Points. The area of the altar is destroyed and now forms a single area with the
swamp.
Blue Mummies : The 3 Blue Mummies cannot attack or be attacked. They are immobile, do not block movement and do not
influence hindrance; however it is not possible to remain in their respective areas.
Chests : During setup, the Overlord places 3 chests on the board as indicated by the setup diagram. They contain 1 Bossonian
Bow, 1 Life Potion and 1 empty Chest.

Pierre Rousseil (Pipire) et Anthony Teixeira Da Costa (teil)

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 3 Inevitable Destiny
They argued non-stop on the way back. Taurus was eager to make some money from their quest by selling the now reconstituted relic,
but the curious Pelias wanted to keep it, so as to get to the bottom of the myster y behind it's possible powers. Indeed, an exchange of
blows seemed likely. The demonic dark stone was clearly having an influence on their reasoning. Their heated debate continued into
the night around a small camp fire they lit amid some old ruins. It was only when darkness fell that they finally recognized where
they were; it was the ver y same setting of their unworldly dream. The Sorcerer who had hired Ageera had tracked them down by using
a creature drawn to the amulet. He would most likely not let them escape this time. Had their dream been but a premonition?

Objectives
If the heroes kill Thog and one of them manages to flee with the artifact (exits from any box on the edge of the
board); the heroes win the game.

If the Overlord kills the hero with the artifact or both heroes, the Overlord wins the game.

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 The game start with The Overlord's turn.
Taurus (turanian sword)
Pelias (mitra's staff, dagger et 4 spell(s) : Teleportation, Telekinesis, Set's Halo, Hand Of Death)
After setup, the Heroes move 3 gem(s) from her Reserve zone to her Fatigue zone.

The Overlord starts with 6 gems in their Reserve zone and 4 in their Fatigue zone, and places the recovery token showing a recovery
value of 3 in the Book of Skelos.

Reinforcements from beyond the grave : 4 reinforcement points, limited to 2 models per reinforcement area
Concentration : The overlord moves up to 4 gems from the Fatigue zone to the Energy zone

6 9 3

Spells : Change Destiny, Stun, Mental Control, Lightning Strike

Equipped with : stygian scepter Spells : Yajur's Awakening, Ymir's Rage, Deceleration

Special rules
Stygian Artifact : The heroes decide who is carrying the Stygian Artifact at the start of the game. This relic makes its wearer
immune to Thog’s Horror skill.
It also grants the bearer the Fascination skill versus Thog. Place 1 gem on the Stygian Artifact at the start of the game. The
bearer cannot be attacked by Thog. The gem is removed when the bearer attacks Thog or at the start of turn 8.
Stygian Scepter : The sorcerer Nathok has the Stygian Scepter which gives him control over Thog. The scepter does not give
him any extra dice in Melee attacks.
If the sorcerer is killed, place the Stygian Scepter card in the area before removing his model from the board. When the heroes
seize the scepter Thog's leftmost tile in the river is removed from the game.
Underground : Tunnels can be taken by spending 2 movement points (Thog cannot use them).
Thog Snacks : Thog uses skeletons as toothpicks. If he is on the same square as a skeleton at any time, the skeleton is
killed.
Chests : During setup, the Overlord places 4 chests on the board as indicated by the setup diagram. Each chest contains two
items (draw two cards from the asset deck): 1 javelin, 2 Explosive Orbs, 2 Life Potions, 1 Bossonian Bow, 1 Crossbow, 1 Pictish
Fetish.

Joce

17
CONAN_Compendium_Thog_EN.indd 17 19/04/2018 15:08:07
 3 Bloody Scum
The Argosean ship is under full sail and her experienced captain looks pleased with himself. He wasn't lying when he described the
merits of his boat and his experience as a sailor to the two foreigners who came to seek his ser vices. As he usually smuggled
contraband goods he was surprised that all he had to carr y this time were passengers. Pelias and Taurus on the other hand are
looking pale as they lean over the side. The recent set back at the old for t showed that they made a mistake by following the Kushite’s
trail. Then Taurus got word from one of his informants of a big gathering of Picts in honor of Jhebbal Sag, the Lord of Beasts. This
worried Pélias, so they decided to go and investigate in person to check whether this might be the resurgence of an even older deity.
As they are discussing the best way to present the trinkets they are carr ying to the Picts, they catch sight of a distant ship heading
straight at them off the ship's prow. The attack is brutal and Taurus and Pelias' ship is badly damaged by the enemy's ballistas. And
as their misfor tune would have it, the turmoil of combat has also attracted a creature from the depths. Taurus shouts to Pelias:
"We are sinking. The ship is lost, and we have to board the pirates' ship!"
"Not without my chest! I've been using our crossing to work on a power ful spell called 'Bone Tale'. I cannot leave it behind!"
"Wait a minute, the box of jewelr y for the Picts - I have to save it!"
"And my grimoire on the Dark Stone, we're going to need that too!"

Objectives
If the heroes kill Constantius and have at least one hero on Constantius' ship with three of the chests, before the
end of turn 7, the heroes win the game. The heroes may choose any 3 chests out of the 5 available.

At the end of turn 7, the ropes connecting the 2 ships snap as they drift apart. If Constantius is still alive or there
is not at least one hero with 3 chests on Constantius' ship, the Overlord wins the game.

18
CONAN_Compendium_Thog_EN.indd 18 19/04/2018 15:08:11
 The game start with The heroes' turn.
Pelias (mitra's staff, dagger et 3 spell(s) : Teleportation, Withering, Mitra's Healing) Gray pirates are allied to the heroes.
Taurus (turanian sword, parrying dagger)
After setup, the Heroes move 3 gem(s) from her Reserve zone to her Fatigue zone.

The Overlord starts with 10 gems in their Reserve zone and 4 in their Fatigue zone, and places the recovery token showing a recovery
value of 5 in the Book of Skelos.

Reinforcement : 4 reinforcement points

NB: Tentacles can only be placed on the reinforcement area of the ocean and pirates on the reinforcement area of ​the boat.

5 10

Special rules
Chests : During setup, the Overlord places 5 chest tokens on the board as indicated by the setup diagram. The chests have an
Encumbrance value of 2. They can be picked up with a simple Manipulation. If they are in a water area, they do not sink.
Leap : A character with the Leap skill can cross areas marked on the setup diagram by .
If a hero fails in his Leap attempt, his movement is lost and he remains on the Leap start area.
A character in an area adjacent to one of the sea areas below the boats can Leap into the water without a Movement penalty.
If this character does not have the Swimming skill however, they die immediately.
Tentacles : A tentacle can destroy an area of the heroes’ ship if 4 symbols are obtained during the attack (Constantius' ship
is more robust). A destroyed area is immediately submerged (and a "Water" token is placed upon it). The area is then
inaccessible but can be crossed with a difficulty 1 Leap. A model failing a Leap takes 1 Wound and stays on the submerged
area (but does not drown).
All tentacles have 1 Movement point.
Return to the ship : A character in a water area marked with a can climb back onto the Overlord's ship by spending 3
Movement points.
A character located in a submerged area of the heroes' ship can climb back up by spending 1 Movement point.

Krawash, Arzok

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CONAN_Compendium_Thog_EN.indd 19 19/04/2018 15:08:13
 3 Great Sacrifice
After a turbulent crossing, the two companions quickly find some Picts who have come to bar ter with the civilized folk. With the help
of a few glass beads they learn that the savages are preparing to join a gathering in honor not of Jhebbal Sag but of an ancient deity
in search of a new sanctuar y. Taurus and Pelias decide to take advantage of this oppor tunity and follow the Picts. Along the way,
Pelias thinks he recognizes a sacred relic hanging from one of the Pict's necks, which he could fuse to the dark stone. The Picts
however, are too numerous to let them seize it. After several days of walking, they arrive at their destination. The diety, Xuthal, is
there and worshipers of the evil creature converge on all sides, offering up their souls to help restore him to his former power.
"Thog the Ancient," whispers Pelias with a mixture of fear and admiration.
"The relic!" he continues to Taurus.
"The Picts must have secured it in one of the huts. If we can get hold of it, we may have a chance of defeating Thog."
"I understand," replies Taurus, with the look of someone who knows his life is about to be cut shor t.

Objectives
If the heroes kill Thog before 7 Picts are sacrificed, the heroes win the game.

If the Overlord succeeds in sacrificing 7 Picts to Thog, he regains his full powers, kills the heroes and escapes from
the swamp; and the Overlord wins the game.

20
CONAN_Compendium_Thog_EN.indd 20 19/04/2018 15:08:16
 The game start with The heroes' turn.
Taurus (turanian sword)
Pelias (mitra's staff et 3 spell(s) : Mitra's Healing, Bori's Rage, Recall) and his Skeleton allies.
After setup, the Heroes move 5 gem(s) from her Reserve zone to her Fatigue zone.

The Overlord starts with 2 gems in their Reserve zone and 4 in their Fatigue zone, and places the recovery token showing a recovery
value of 4 in the Book of Skelos.

Reinforcement : 4 reinforcement points, with a maximum of 2 Pict reinforcements per reinforcing point.
Banzai : If a Pict is on a non-swamp area adjacent to the Thog area and without an enemy on his area, they fall into the mouth
of Thog. The Sacrifice marker advances one position.
Thog Life : If a hero is on an area adjacent to Thog, they suffer a tentacle Wound (no defense possible) and Thog regains a Life
Point. A skeleton on the hero's area can be sacrificed to cancel the effects.

12

Special rules
Bone Tale : Pelias can turn the Picts killed during the same turn, by the heroes or their allies, into skeletons with a simple
Manipulation per skeleton (a line of sight is not necessary, but Pelias must be active). Replace the Pict that has just been
removed from the board with a model of a skeleton. There cannot be more than 3 skeletons on the board.
Sacrifice : When Thog kills a Pict present in his area (he attacks it as if it were an enemy model), the Sacrifice marker
progresses one position along the turn track. When the marker reaches position 7 (place it on position 0 at the beginning of
the game), the Overlord wins the game.
Sense of Duty : A skeleton can use its Sacrifice skill to protect a hero or to prevent Thog from killing a Pict.
Stygian Artifact : If Pelias is in possession of the Stygian Artifact he can activate its effects with a simple Manipulation. This
powerful relic reduces Thog's passive defense power by 1 point (so he now has 2 passive defense) and limits his active
defense to 2 gems.
Water Areas : A character must spend 1 extra movement point to move out of a water area. A character can move from a
water area to an adjacent wood area by spending 2 extra movement points. (Thog cannot leave the 3 marsh areas).
Leap : It is not possible to leap the central water zone around the altar in one go. An intermediate stop on the altar is
required.
Chests : During setup, the Overlord places 3 chests on the board as indicated by the setup diagram. The asset deck consists
of 1 Explosive Orb, 1 Life Potion and 1 Stygian Artifact.

Laurent Leloup

21
CONAN_Compendium_Thog_EN.indd 21 19/04/2018 15:08:19
 3 Between Two Worlds
How long had they been wandering this damp, silent, malignant jungle? After their ship sunk into the deadly clutches of the thing
from the abyss they clung desperately to some wreckage until they were washed up by a storm onto the shores of this eerie island. "It
is as if we have been brought to this foul place on purpose." This was the thought haunting Pelias as Taurus cut a path through the
creepers.
Eventually they came upon the rotting remains of a lost village veiled in the mists of a swamp. As they began to wonder what they
beheld, the Nemedian spotted several strange silhouettes roaming around the slime-covered, green stone ruins. Far from being
natives, the weapons, jewels and rags with which they were adorned showed that these foul undead creatures had formerly been
adventurers of varying backgrounds. What evil had drawn them here?
The mage's vigilant mystical senses felt the air shimmer strangely. It was as if the barrier separating them from the Outer Dark had
been eroded. Feeling the weight of the dark stone around his neck, Pelias realized that they had been nothing but puppets in some
despicable game since the beginning of their adventure. Then, as if to confirm his suspicions, the air vibrated and a breach opened
before their eyes. Beyond , on the edge of reality, prowled things that defied their comprehension. With a cry of defiance, the two
companions rushed for ward in unison for one final battle.

Objectives
If the heroes kill Thog; the heroes win the game.

If the Overlord creates 7 portals (including the one already present at the start of the game) or kills the heroes;
the Overlord wins the game.

22
CONAN_Compendium_Thog_EN.indd 22 19/04/2018 15:08:23
 The game start with The heroes' turn.
Pelias (parrying dagger, leather armor et 2 spell(s) : Lightning Strike, Putrescence)
Taurus (sword, leather armor, throwing knives)
After setup, the Heroes move 5 gem(s) from her Reserve zone to her Fatigue zone.

The Overlord starts with 4 gems in their Reserve zone and 8 in their Fatigue zone, and places the recovery token showing a recovery
value of 5 in the Book of Skelos.

Reinforcement : 4 reinforcement points. Reinforcements can only be placed on portal areas.

Portal Creation : The Overlord places a portal in an area adjacent to the Thog model. There can only be one portal per area.

6 8

Special rules
Overlord River : The river cannot be cleared in this scenario.
Limbo : When using a portal, a hero leaves the Real World and passes into Limbo, they then place a halo token around their
model’s base. A model has no line of sight to a model in a world other than their own. They cannot interact or fight with
them. A hero in Limbo is not subject to hindrance in water areas. The Overlord's models cannot use the portals. Thog and the
Outer Dark Demon are always in Limbo.
Portals : Artifact tokens are used to indicate portals. To use a portal, a hero must be in an area containing a portal where no
enemies are present (with the exception of Thog or the Outer Dark Demon). There is no cost in gems to use a portal.
Tentacles : When activating the tentacle tile, the Overlord can teleport a tentacle from one portal to another by spending 1
gem. Two tentacle models are placed outside the board at the beginning of the game and are available as reinforcements.
Wounds in Limbo : As soon as a hero suffers at least one wound in Limbo, they lose their halo token and return to the Real
World.
Chests : During setup, the Overlord places 3 chests on the board as indicated by the setup diagram. The Asset deck is
composed of 1 Bossonian Bow and 2 Life Potions. Chests are in the Real World.
Leap : The difficulty of each Leap is indicated on the setup diagram. It is not possible to Leap the central water zone around
the altar in one go, an intermediate stop on the altar is required.
Water Areas : A character must spend 1 extra movement point to move out of a water area. A character can move from a
water area to an adjacent wood area by spending 2 extra movement points.

Pyramidou

23
CONAN_Compendium_Thog_EN.indd 23 19/04/2018 15:08:25
 3 The Black Staff
Thog had star ted his feast. Ever y night his unspeakable shadow consumed prey, devouring on command. Nowhere and no-one was safe.
Having narrowly escaped his deadly clutches, the Prince was now the only sur viving member of the Royal Family.
The words uttered by the priest of Erlik, before he too was taken by the devil, still rang in the Prince's ears: "The staff of the Sorceress
holds the power to call or constrain the Insatiable One. When she who swore to end your bloodline has been killed, you must bring it to
me. I will separate it into three pieces and hide it in different temples. So that its power may be feared no more."
The Insatiable One was but an instrument of revenge. Before his death, the Shah tor tured and executed his own daughter, the Prince's
sister, and his astronomer, the Sorceress' son. The two had become lovers in secret and when they were discovered in bed together the
Shah had been unforgiving.
The Sorceress had journeyed from her swamp to witness the execution of her unfor tunate son and see his remains thrown to the dogs,
along with those of his lover. When she had left, the old hag swore vengeance
upon the monarch, his family and the jeering nobles of Turan, promising them all an untimely, grisly death.
Two figures, driven by a dark determination and imper vious to the stench of the swamp, are advancing towards the sinister ruined
refuge of the Sorceress. The cruel-eyed Prince ner vously notches his bow with the
arrow he plans to pierce the hear t of the old woman with. Forging ahead of him is none other than the captain of the guard, his devout
ser vant and robust companion.
By Tarim! Soon they will be finished with this Sorceress and her witcher y for good.

Objectives
If the Prince and his captain kill the Sorceress before the end of turn 10; the heroes win the game.

If the Overlord kills both heroes or keeps the Sorceress alive until the end of turn 10 (Thog responds to the
summons and devours the heroes); the Overlord wins the game.

24
CONAN_Compendium_Thog_EN.indd 24 19/04/2018 15:08:29
 The game start with The heroes' turn.
Olgerd Vladislav (battle axe, leather armor, elixir)
Kerimshah (turanian sword, zingaran bow, zingaran breastplate, life potion)
After setup, the Heroes move 5 gem(s) from her Reserve zone to her Fatigue zone.

The Overlord starts with 10 gems in their Reserve zone and 0 in their Fatigue zone, and places the recovery token showing a recovery
value of 5 in the Book of Skelos.

Will-o-the-Wisps : The Sorceress is the guardian of the tortured souls who lost their lives in the swamps. The Overlord can move
up to 2 Reinforcement tokens which represent Will-o-the-wisps, 1 or 2 areas. Will-o-the-wisps have the Intangible skill. A
hero in the same area as a Will-o-the-wisp is subject to the Bad Luck skill.

Allied Souls : 3 Reinforcement Points .

Wrath of the Dead : If the Bone Golem model is not present on the board, a Reinforcement token may be replaced by a Bone
Golem in the area where the model was. The corresponding tile is placed at the start of the river. The Bone Golem has 3 life
points.

6 8 6

Equipped with : black staff Spells : Mitra's Halo, Wind Barrier, Yajur's Awakening, Set's Bite The Sorceress comes into play with
Mitra's Halo spell activated.

Special rules
Swamp Creature : During the first Overlord Action phase, the Swamp Demon model is placed on a water area of choice by
the Overlord.
Inescapable : The Precision Shot skill is ineffective against the Bone Golem and skeletons.
Water Areas : A character must spend 1 extra movement point to move out of a water area. A character can move from a
water area to an adjacent wood area by spending 2 extra movement points. These restrictions do not apply to the Swamp
Demon.
Leap : It is not possible to Leap over the central water zone around the altar in one go. An intermediate stop on the altar is
required. The difficulty of all Leaps is 1.
Wooden Huts : Wooden hut partitions can be broken through using the Wall Wrecker skill.
Elixir of Golden Lotus : An active hero can drink the Elixir and ignore the effects of Horror and Bad Luck skills until the
next hero Stance phase. The card is discarded once played.

Sabreur errant

25
CONAN_Compendium_Thog_EN.indd 25 19/04/2018 15:08:31
 4 Terror in Ankatia
A foul wind blows through the deserted streets of the river por t of Ankatia. Gripping the hilt of his sword, Conan grimaces. So far, his
ner ves of steel have stood up to what would have led many a weaker man to desert the battlefield: facing the undead. Warriors who had
been but corpses for many years had risen from their graves under the power and witchcraft of a vile worshiper of Set. The false priest
had greedily used all the magical knowledge he had gained throughout his priesthood to satisfy nothing but his own thirst for power.
Then, after terrorizing and enslaving the city, the Sorcerer had decided that he wanted to wed the seductive, young Olima, even though
she was already promised to Ikhmet, the fierce warrior.
So Conan was here for his young Stygian companion, whom he had recently met on an adventure, to help him free his hometown from
the clutches of the mad priest and to find his sweethear t as soon as possible.
As our heroes are making their way along the banks of the Styx to enter the city undetected, a deathly silence suddenly descends, like a
dark, gloomy shroud.
To have a chance of saving Olima and put an end to the curse that has befallen Ankatia, they must act quickly to find and destroy the
Cursed Stones of Renfal and the Death Mask of Thoth-Amon, artifacts that the Sorcerer relies upon to increase his dark powers.
PALLANTIDES

Objectives
If the heroes find and destroy the cursed stones of Renfal and the Mask of Thot-Amon as well as free and escape
with Olima by one of the three streets; the heroes win the game.

If the Overlord kills all the heroes or holds out until the end of turn 8, when an army of undead soldiers raised by
the Sorcerer arrives and kills everyone; the Overlord wins the game.

26
CONAN_Compendium_Thog_EN.indd 26 19/04/2018 15:08:35
 The game start with The heroes' turn.
Conan (chainmail, battle axe)
Hadratus (dagger et 3 spell(s) : Mitra's Halo, Teleportation, Lightning Strike)
Ikhmet (leather armor, stygia - assassin's dagger, stygia - assassin's dagger)
After setup, the Heroes move 2 gem(s) from her Reserve zone to her Fatigue zone.

The Overlord starts with 10 gems in their Reserve zone and 0 in their Fatigue zone, and places the recovery token showing a recovery
value of 5 in the Book of Skelos.

Cry of Olima : Triggered automatically and for free in addition to the event chosen during the first activation of her tile. The
princess calls for help and the Overlord must reveal her position by replacing the 3 relic token with her model. She is not freed
and cannot move.
Sandstorm : all models (except the Sorcerer and the undead) lose 2 free Movement points and 1 Movement saturation point and
cannot perform ranged attacks or cast spells that require line of sight during this round. The flying carpet cannot be used during
this round. Olima can move if she is in heroes' line of sight as she is guided by their cries.
Reinforcements : The Overlord has 4 reinforcement points to restore their troops, limited by the number of models present on the
board at the start of the game. If the Sorcerer is alive, he can have 4 extra Reinforcement points to raise the undead, but he
cannot be activated on the same turn.

10 10

Spells : Set's Possession, Set's Bite, Wind Barrier

Special rules
Cursed Stones of Renfal and Mask of Thot-Amon : During setup, the Overlord places them where they wish using
12 relic tokens (numbered from 1 to 12) as indicated on the setup diagram. The 1 indicates the position of the stones, 2 is the
mask and 3 is Olima. These tokens are discovered when a hero enters the area. To destroy the stones and the mask, the
heroes must inflict 4 damage, in one or more attacks. Destroying them both instantly kills the wizard and all his undead
soldiers.
Olima : She has not been freed and can only move when a hero is in her area. She is then played by the heroes. She cannot
fight and the Overlord cannot attack her. She has 2 free Movements and the heroes that are in her field of vision may spend 1
or 2 for 1 or 2 maximum additional Movements. She cannot swim.
Flying Carpet : The hero that picks it up suffers 33 Encumbrance points and can, once per turn, use the Flying skill by
spending 1 . The hero cannot carry anyone else on the Flying Carpet.
Booby-Trapped Chest : When a hero draws the Trap card from the Asset deck, the trap is triggered. All models in the
Chest area are submitted to an area attack of .
Chests : During setup, the Overlord places 7 chests on the board as indicated by the setup diagram. The asset deck consists of
2 Life Potions, 1 Throwing Knives, 1 Explosive Orb, 1 Bossonian Bow, 1 Flying Carpet (use the Stygian artifact card to represent
it) and 1 Booby-Trapped Chest.
Map Rules : All Stygia Harbor Map Rules apply in this scenario.

Nurthor Le Noir
Nurthor Le Noir
CONAN_Compendium_Thog_EN.indd 27 19/04/2018 15:08:38
 4 Murky Waters
"By Crom! What devilr y is this?" Gripping the hilt of his sword, Conan steals along the wall of Fort Tuscelan like a slinking panther.
Although his senses work per fectly, his memor y is star ting to go hazy, as if plunged into a murky fog. Convinced that the for t
disappeared years ago, when it was destroyed by the Picts, he is struggling to understand just how he now finds himself sur veying the
very same intact, but empty, structure. Did he really just spend the last few days sailing up the Black River in search of lost treasure?

As he is advancing through the building, a monstrous tentacle suddenly springs from nowhere and tries to grab him. With lightening
reflexes the Cimmerian leaps aside, avoiding its clutches. However, it seems that the heinous appendage writhing in the air is not an
illusion. Then a distant, distor ted voice echoes around the walls: "A long time ago you killed my son, Zogar Sag. Now you will learn that
he was not only one of my seed ser ving me upon this earth. Today I will have my vengeance. You are going to die. Look! "

For a fleeting instant, Conan has a vision of himself and his friends standing back on the deck of the ship. However, he can no longer
control his own movements, having seemingly become but a puppet in the hands of the priest of Jhebbal Sag who has now taken over
his mind. To have any chance of saving his comrades and his own life, he must extract his soul from this murky nightmare, controlled by
the hypnotic power of the priest.
Thank you Pallantides for the text.

Objectives
If the heroes kill Zogar Sag, the heroes win the game.

If Overlord kills Amboola and Bêlit, the Overlord wins the game.

28
CONAN_Compendium_Thog_EN.indd 28 19/04/2018 15:08:42
 The game start with The heroes' turn.
Amra the lion - King Conan (two handed sword, buckler)
Amboola (dagger, leather armor)
Belit (ornamental spear, tribal shield)
After setup, the Heroes move 3 gem(s) from her Reserve zone to her Fatigue zone.

The Overlord starts with 6 gems in their Reserve zone and 4 in their Fatigue zone, and places the recovery token showing a recovery
value of 7 in the Book of Skelos.

15 10

Spells : Pestilence Swarm

Special rules
Where the nightmare ends : The ship diagram is considered to be in the real world while the fort indicates where the
nightmare takes place. Models cannot cross between the two worlds.
Submerged : Tentacles can appear on all the water squares in the real world part (ship) and anywhere in the nightmare part
(fort).
Dream or reality : If a tentacle is killed in one world, then another tentacle of the same color is removed from the other
world (the heroes choose which).
Conan Awakes : By spending 1 Movement point to pass through door 1, Amra instantly triggers the following events:
-The Amra model is removed from the game.
-The overlord removes the Conan tile from the river but the model remains in place.
-The player controlling Amra takes the Conan hero card with the 2 Handed Sword that Amra had in the nightmare and starts
with maximum gems in the Reserve zone.
Shallow Waters : Water areas directly adjacent to the ship may be targeted from an adjacent area of the ship. If a model is
on a water area, it can fight as per normal. There is no movement penalty to enter or exit a water area.
Pit : Entering is a normal movement, but a character must spend 1 extra Movement point to move out of the pit area.
Barred Windows : Barred Windows do not block line of sight.

Zovitch - version 1.0

29
CONAN_Compendium_Thog_EN.indd 29 19/04/2018 15:08:44
 HOW TO MAKE A MONSTER : THOG

This is probably my favorite sculpture project of Once the creature’s proportions are clearly defined
the Conan Kickstarter. This figurine was really (02), I start by building a solid 1,5mm wire frame
great to build once its shape was nailed down. (keeping Arnaud Boudoiron’s crossbowman to hand
for scale). This results in a very twisted looking
In fact, when faced with the problem of size (how skeleton that nobody could possibly recognize (03).
to represent the unknown,) Adrian Smith decided
to go in a completely different direction to previous
depictions of Thog (01) and so much the better!

I then quickly cover the wire with Greenstuff

(for its adhesive properties) and I place a Milliput
core into the structure (04) just to add mass to it -
nothing too precise for the moment.

And - luckily for me - he made it a much more

concrete and physical entity than Robert E. Howard
described in his story «The Slithering Shadow».

CONAN_Compendium_Thog_EN.indd 30 19/04/2018 15:08:46

 I double the number of pseudopod clusters to
create a visible mass before adding more detail to
their surfaces (07). I add this sort of cartilaginous
armor where the forearms would be on a human.

4
The first outline is molded using Fimo (05). We
can see it taking shape with its massive shoulders
and a pedestal of tentacles that take the place of
arms. The open mouth is left as it is; we will have
to make a decision about that later. 7
Now it is time to soften the latest additions of
Fimo with a rubber brush. I note a slight asymmetry
around the mouth at this stage, proving it is useful
to take photos of work in progress (08).

5
8

No idea what the clusters of lozenges growing on The biggest problem with such a multiform
the flanks of the monster might be, but A. Smith creature is to achieve a reproducible figure without
keeps quiet about those (06), perhaps they are needing too many pieces (09). The end of the left
reproductive organs - or parasites maybe? limb is covered once more in Greenstuff to add
strength.

6 9
31
CONAN_Compendium_Thog_EN.indd 31 19/04/2018 15:08:47
 A lot of detail comes in at this stage. With a I mottle the skin by tapping it lightly with a ball
needle I lift folds in the material then soften them tool. Then I add more obvious skin features here
with a brush to obtain convincing wrinkles on the and there, like cuts and deep pores pricked with a
skin (10 & 11). So as to not make the exercise any needle (13).
more complicated than it already is - the tongue is
molded and fired separately.

13
10
14 & 15: I also pay attention to the external
vertebrae which emerge from the top of the head.
I try to align each spike on the same axis to make
the work of the molder as easy as possible. I add
a few veins into the mix, just to avoid leaving
vacant areas while reinforcing the disgusting
character of the demon. Here and there I flatten
tiny balls of Fimo in between the muscle fibers to
visually connect them with tendons. As my mentor
Simon taught me at Rackham, it is important to
find the right density - to not apply things too
systematically. Conveniently, they will also serve
as fill-ins to prevent the silicone seeping during the
molding process.

11
It is time to give Thog some eyes. To be sure to get
perfect globes (that will go in the oven) I add pen
cartridge balls to the Fimo for an added translucent
effect (12).

12 14
32
CONAN_Compendium_Thog_EN.indd 32 19/04/2018 15:08:48
 At the last moment, I decide I am not satisfied
with the curvature of the tail dart. In the end I use a
claw from my cat (18) - and the result is perfection!!

18

15 That, however, was not the end of the story. Once

in possession of a plastic pressing, I can experiment
Now comes the delicate stage of cutting the to my heart’s content on my own personal copy.
figurine. To my great misfortune, it is finally After carefully removing the molded pieces, I cut
decided that Thog will have his mouth closed! (16). the jaw with a jeweler’s saw to revisit the original
Of course, the operation is done post-firing. As idea of ​​the gaping mouth (19).
agreed, we do not exceed 5 elements – so job done.

16 19

I make a f ew small, last minute alterations and

Some retouching to the Greenstuff is done to adjustments to the overall shape (20).
smooth over the changes made after cutting (17).
As expected - the green base layer is visible through
the Fimo. You can see that it got very hot at the top
of the shoulders. I make sure to fix the finer details
(veins, spikes) with cyano glue before entrusting the
master to the molder.

17 20
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CONAN_Compendium_Thog_EN.indd 33 19/04/2018 15:08:50
 I add a trail of tentacles behind the monster to While thinking about how to deal with the eyes,
give it more volume and cover it with a white primer I go back to my photographs of the master about to
to check if the modifications work well together (21). be shipped (24), and I realize that the pen cartridge
beads produced an intriguing look - like a fish from
the deep. My instinct is to try things out and wreck
my model in the early stages of painting - rather
than have regrets later (25).

21

I decide to go for a palette of colors quite different

from those chosen by Adrian. I want to give it the
look of an albino creature from the abyss (22). I start
by applying a brown wash of Agrax Earthshade on
a beige base of Jack Bone P3. 24
I then proceed to a spray of zenith white, a good
mid-layer for this kind of shading (23).

22 23 25
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CONAN_Compendium_Thog_EN.indd 34 19/04/2018 15:08:52
 After a few brown and purple glazes, I do my It just remains for me to play with varnishes to
highlights with Prince August white, whose reinforce the unusual appearance of the thing (28).
slightly «chalky» quality works miracles. I airbrush
black gloss onto the extremities – which always
looks good (26).

28

Thog was an extraordinary figure to create in

many ways. Most projects require you to respect
26
anatomy, symmetry and proportions, so I found
I carefully avoid adding any overly saturated it refreshing to work on such an atypical piece. I
trace of color - at most a little brown rust to create cannot wait to see him take part in new scenarios!
contrast in the hollows. I read Howard’s story a little bit late; normally
The addition of some small spots, which you get its useful to research your subject beforehand, but
on some sea creatures, completes the effect (27). not in this case (the general opinion is that it is not
reputed to be his best tale).
Although, Erwan did call me back to suggest
another project:
- «What would you say to THAUG?»
- «Isn’t that the same thing?!?»
(Well, that is another tale …)

27
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CONAN_Compendium_Thog_EN.indd 35 19/04/2018 15:08:55
 Part of the host

Do you hear the cry from deep in your brawn? known to the Five, who nodded pensively and did
Mercilessly beckoning, unfortunate spawn, not enquire further. Their laws were simple: when
Like blood and blood and fire and cinder. water is available it is to be offered to the visitor,
There you must go, without hinder! no matter where they might have come from nor
Poème shémite where they might go; however, when drought is rife
the visitor should be offered nothing - save their
In the shade of the palm grove, where water lapped own eternal rest. As for the Cursed city of Xuthal
reassuringly beneath the trees, the voracious dunes - the thirsty dunes of the desert could swallow it
seemed no more than a shimmering backdrop in the down.
fading light of dusk. The young Brythunian woman
stood at the edge of a field of white fonio, resting So, it was thus, four days and nights spent
a slender hand upon a palm tree. Her alabaster contemplating the desert; picturing the cursed
thighs, still covered in whiplash marks, brushed city beyond the horizon with its green, sparkling
against the tall grass bowing in the desert breeze. minarets and domes, its melodious fountains, rich
She distractedly surveyed the desolate landscape apartments and catacombs. And, in its depths, in
from whence she and her companion had emerged the darkness, in the yawning pit…
four days previously. «There you are.»
The arrival of the two foreigners had been quite Natala, startled from her reverie and trembling
an event in Foveta, a small forgotten oasis on despite herself, turned to look at the Cimmerian.
the border of the Black Kingdoms, for the desert He seemed to have noticed that she stiffened
rarely delivered more than dust and death to their whenever he embraced her now. The scent of other
doors. No trade route had made it to this side of women from the camp upon him would have made
the sands for decades and even the desert beasts her mad with jealousy four days earlier, but now
seemed to avoid the place. Yet the sand-encrusted it seemed reassuring somehow. Conan, gazing at
forms that had dropped to their knees to drink from the dunes over her shoulder, spoke abruptly:
the watering pool had been living beings.
«I’ve seen enough of this desert, Natala. Almuric
The slave girl of delicate complexion and is dead, my sword is free again. So tomorrow, I will
cascading golden hair had looked hardier than the leave.»
toughest of camel herders as she lifted the muddy
water to her lips. Her companion even more so; Without me, she realized. It is not just the sands
a colossus, drinking deeply on his stomach with that make him weary. He has tired of Natala,
his whole head dipped in the water beside her. daughter of Brythunia.
His muscular shoulders, reminiscent of the gentle
«You are free to go,» he continued. “A caravan
power of a desert lion, were crisscrossed with
has arrived, it will take you wherever you want
deep cuts and long-healed scars. Chuckling and
to go. This is for you, to get you started back in
nudging each other, the women had abandoned
civilization.»
their work on the fields to come and gaze at the
majestic stranger. The most enterprising of them He slid three bars of solid gold into her ivory
running to the nearest shaduf to draw fresh water, hands. All that remained of Xuthal, she suspected.
which they brought back in basins. As he strode away, the girl realized she might
never see him again.
Once refreshed, the newcomers had been led to
the cooling shade of a mud house to be questioned
by The Five, the elders of Foveta. ***

«I am Conan, from Cimmeria,» he had said. Nkemdilim and his men broke step, they were no
“And this is Natala, from Brythunia. We were longer in such a rush. The five mobsters had finally
lost in the desert until we came upon the city of cornered their prey. Nimble though she was, the
Xuthal, of which I will speak no more.» young, white-skinned girl had nowhere left to run.

Xuthal, a city veiled with mystery and fear, was «Ready or not, here we come!» he chirped, his
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CONAN_Compendium_Thog_EN.indd 36 19/04/2018 15:08:56
 gold teeth and dagger flashing in the moonlight. the quickest of her adversaries and rushed at the
The gang were typical of the scum that infested temple wall to back-flip over two of her pursuers.
the port of Kulalo, always on the lookout for One had crumpled to the ground with a hole in each
pickings that the pirates of the Black Coast had kidney before he even knew what was happening,
left behind. They had spotted the girl on the docks while the other could only manage a glancing blow
several days earlier; learning that she was the across Jais’ shoulder blade before she had ducked
daughter of a stranger brought back by Ayotunde, forward and sliced open his belly. The sight of
the smuggler, twelve or so years ago. his unfortunate comrade spilling his entrails onto
the floor persuaded the remaining gang member
A few paces further on Jais was waiting for her to turn and flee. Although he did not get far
attackers, crouching in the center of a small square before the bloody stone, that Jais had held onto,
where the wooden houses stood against the wall struck the back of his neck and sent him rolling
of the temple of Derketo. The night was still and onto into the dust, unconscious. The lilywhite-
quiet save for the occasional cry from the distant skinned girl advanced towards the sniveling form
jungle and the whispering voices of the goddess’ of Nkemdilim.
faithful, sarabanding on the other side of the wall.
«Now, here’s the deal...» announced Natala’s
«Now, here’s the deal,» said Nkemdilim as daughter with a grim smile…
his associates gathered around. «Two days back
a Shemite pirate and his boys paid a little visit After washing herself at a public fountain and
to Ayotunde and sold him three chests of jewels, dressing the wound on her back Jais returned
silks, dried lotus and other booty. Now, if I’m home. In the stifling atmosphere of the cramped
gonna get my hands on those chests I’m gonna bedroom, the peaceful breathing of her sleeping
need your help, because the shop is watched by family made it a hard not to fall asleep, yet she
night.» fought it for as long as she could. Eventually the
dreams came; more vivid and more haunting than
Squatting down in front of the girl, he grabbed ever before.
her chin forcing her to look him in the eye.
«Your Brythunian mother gets it on with his ***
lordship, right? She’s had, what, three kids by him
now? Yet you, you little bastard, he don’t mind He languished in the dark, viscous abyss below
you hanging around. You even eats at his table as Xuthal. The founders of the city had called him
if you was his bloody daughter! He likes you, he Thog when they could not help but think about
does. So, I reckon if you, the boys and me go to him, though no one knew his real name. In his
his house, and I hold this sharp little blade against visceral mind he had no need for names anyway,
your pretty little throat,» he brandished his bronze blood was all that mattered. For in the depths of
dagger before her eyes, «Ayotunde is gonna hand his lair beneath the world time had no meaning,
over his coffers, in all good faith. Now, if you neither did light nor hope. There was only Hunger.
behave yourself we won’t touch your bitch of a m... Hunger and, more recently, Pain.
« Around fifteen years ago, for the first time in his
With the speed of a pouncing mamba, Jais brought life, he had been injured. Although cut, stabbed
her left hand from behind and smashed Nkemdilim and mutilated, he had not been beaten by steel -
in the face with a rock she had hidden from sight. but by the fury of the Cimmerian that had fought
Then, with two more swift jabs from the bloodied him. As serious as his wounds were however,
rock she crippled his dagger hand and snatched Thog had recovered. The golden lotus which the
away the weapon. Cursing and half-recoiling in city inhabitants ate between dreams gradually
surprise, the brigands threw themselves at Jais as regenerated his vile flesh, helping him to regain his
she rolled out of reach. strength bit by bit. In the months following Conan
and Natala’s escape the creature had regularly
«Geb da bidch!» yelled their leader, clutching at risen to the surface to gorge upon the dreamers,
what remained of his nose and upper lip with his but now food was scarce. The dream people were
good hand. almost all gone. The present generation were but
a pale shadow of their vigorous forebears, softened
But the girl was already too quick for them, by an all too easy life where they wanted for
she plunged the stolen dagger into the guts of nothing. A few more visits to the surface and the
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CONAN_Compendium_Thog_EN.indd 37 19/04/2018 15:08:56
 god of Xuthal would be reigning over nothing but children he would father, no one would ever know.
lifeless bricks and stones. The sands would engulf
the city and only a few minarets would remain to ***
be gnawed away at by the desert winds. Then,
tortured by Hunger and weakened by his festering At dawn, Jais finally contemplated the gates of
wounds, Thog would take refuge and sleep for Xuthal from beneath the sun shelter mounted atop
millennia. her camel. The girl sighed with pleasure. How many
times had she visited this place in her dreams? The
Thus, he would disappear from the memories of ramparts, the corridors, the lotus gardens and the
men. underground chambers encircling the abyss were
At least, it would have been so had Conan been already so familiar. It had been calling her since her
an ordinary man and Natala not a courageous and adolescence. She was finally home. She marveled
compassionate woman. at the city she would rejuvenate with her brothers
and sisters; they would turn it into the heart of a
After his impossible feat, the barbarian had new, flourishing kingdom that before long would
dragged his ragged carcass to Natala and then to reach beyond the desert.
the surface. At each step the dying man had shed
his blood, sanity and will upon the marble floors. Conan’s first child spurred her camel forward -
Finally, he had collapsed at the base of the silver to greet her other father.
fountain to which his companion had led him.
Conan had barely noticed the Brythunian girl
bathing his wounds, rasping through contorted, Story by Not Quite Dead.
cracked lips as she bandaged the black, foul-
smelling, putrid skin falling from his back. She
knew the water would not save him. He was too
weak and too delirious to even recite the feasting
of swords which northern warriors, she had heard,
enacted as the sisters of the slain summoned them
into the afterlife.
Then she had found a jar containing a golden
elixir that gives strength and health to all who
drink it. Life had flown anew through Conan; he
had risen, his foul wounds had become scars, and
they had reached Foveta. In this oasis, he had first
pressed himself against Natala’s supple ivory
skin and then against the flesh of numerous camel
herders’ wives and daughters. The uncomplicated
nature of the barbarian meant he could quickly
shed the venomous embrace of the monster for
pleasures of the flesh. Soon, Thog was no more
than an abhorrent memory among others and
Xuthal just another cursed city.
But although he had cared for his flesh and his
spirit, even the wonderful wine of Xuthal could
not have completely purged Conan of Thog’s
deadly seed. It had become part of the Cimmerian
himself and grew inside him, boosting his vigor
and extraordinary strength. Because of this, the
former king of Aquilonia would continue to crack
open breastplates and skulls with a stroke of his
broadsword and frequent the chambers of young
beauties seduced by his strength and energy, even
at the threshold of old age. As for the number of

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 Guide to painting: Thog

Foreword Washes: A wash is a highly diluted paint used to

create shadows by naturally depositing pigment
With this guide I’m going to show you how to paint in crevasses. There are ready-made paints that are
the cool creature that is Thog to create a beautiful ideal for this kind of effect, but they can be made
gaming model. This is a really fun model to paint. by adding water or other thinners to distribute the
With lots of textures and the opportunity to use pigment evenly. Be careful never to overload your
some unusual colors, it offers a nice change from the brush or you will risk leaving heavy deposits. You
henchmen that the Conan game contains. I advise should mop up any surplus if possible with a small
you to maybe paint another creature or a couple of piece of blotting paper, it may be best to do several
heroes at the same time, to fill downtime as you coats if necessary.
complete this ambitious project.
Glazing: Glazes let you to combine and alter
Technique gradients. You need to add a lot of water to make
a colored glaze. You can do as many coats as
Technically, I have stuck to my preferred method: needed but be careful not to overdo it or you risk
base coats, shading and highlights followed by completely hiding your gradients. You should have
washes and final touches. The only real difference very little on your brush and do even strokes from
is that this model is very textured, so I have used the light towards the dark. The idea is to add just
tints to quickly work over the materials. No blends a faint surface tint to subtly transform the pigment
were done, all the colors are combined using the underneath, like a filter.
glazes which ultimately saves time. I work on the
zones one by one, from the biggest to the smallest,
and never really finish an area until right at the end
- when everything is finalized.

Glossary:
Diluting: Always add water to acrylic paints.
Be careful because every set of paints is different
so always do a test before you start. In general, a
50/50 mix will give you fluidity while retaining
enough pigment. You constantly have to alter the
amount of water while painting to ensure you get
the desired opacity, however.

Blending: A technique used to merge one color

into another, usually darker in the shadows and
lighter in the highlights. You brush on thin layers
of paint, pulling the pigment either towards the
shadows or toward the highlights, you may need to
do several layers for each color to avoid overloading
your brush. Opacity is created by the thin layers
coated on top of one another and by pulling the
pigment to specific places so that it becomes more
concentrated there. Mixing is not required to create
a nice transition; the wide range of colors available
today make things relatively easy. Be careful with
your dilutions, however. You should also reduce the
amount of blending where it gets much darker or
much lighter.

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 Preparation Painting
First things first: preparation. It is essential to Paint sets:
remove any molding lines and other imperfections
from the outset. Scrape them away with a sharp I look at every paint available; I like picking from
X-Acto or scalpel, but be careful not to cut anything. different sets when I like a particular color or, out
I then go over the scraped areas with Tamiya Extra of curiosity, want to see how it behaves. On Thog I
Thin Cement (plastic glue) which partially melts used Games Workshop (GW), Prince August (PA),
the shavings that remain along the scraped lines. I P3, Coat d’Arms, Vallejo and Daler & Rowney
cover over any holes or intersections of the figurine paints.
with Green Stuff and let it dry for several hours
before touching it to make sure the two-component Base coat colors:
paste has dried. Once dry, I smooth off all the
The first step is to add a base coat to the whole
imperfections with a Tamiya Sanding Sponge Sheet
model, this lets you get to know the model and
2000 and I also go over the Brown Stuff as it is well
its dimensions as well as see if the colors you had
suited to sanding. Finally, I apply GW Stirland
in mind will actually work. Here my inspiration
Mud to texturize the soil and once dry I super glue
remains the great image by Adrian Smith, which
on small pebbles cut from cork.
it will be similar to but the final version will have
some differences. Normally I do a very opaque
base layer, but here I am going to use textures and
transparency to give a little more depth to the model.
Be careful because the transparent paints (blends,
washes, glazes) take longer to dry and in general I
apply between 2 and 3 thin layers of each. This step
takes a little longer than usual because you have to
let each layer dry before applying the next.

The colors are:

• GW Athonian Camoshade for the body.
• GW Seraphim Sepia under the mouth and on
the plates on the arms.
• GW Reikland Fleshade for the spine and tail.
• PA Acajou Transparent for the tongue, lips and
stinger.
1
After a final check I cover the model in GW white
spray undercoat.

2 3
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CONAN_Compendium_Thog_EN.indd 40 19/04/2018 15:09:02
 7

The body : 8
Painting the body is done first as it is the biggest The second step is to do several successive glazes,
element and is a part that will take time to deal pulling each one towards the shadows and reducing
with. First off, to leverage the optical effect of the blending area as you go. This is a long step as
transparency and texture, I am going to thoroughly you have to let each coat dry, but it is pleasing all
lighten it and then do lots of glazing to darken it. the same because you get to see the transformation
Here I voluntarily push up the contrast knowing taking place. Glazes are made with a 50/50 mix
that the glazes will fade everything. I lighten using of GW Athonian Camoshade and GW Lahmian
PA Vert Americain (05), GW Nurgling Green (06), Medium (09), then Vallejo Dark Green wash (10),
PA Gris Pierre (07) and PA Bleu Gris Clair (08). some Vallejo Dark Brown wash (11) and finally PA
Acajou Transparent (12).

5 9

6 10
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 Pink sections (tongue, lips, spine/
tail) :
Although base coated differently at the beginning,
all the pink areas will be done in the same way. I
had in mind to make them different colors but they
will stand out later with further treatment. The
blending is very simple and is done using GW Pink
Horror (16), PA Chair de Base (17) and P3 Carnal
11 Pink (18). To bring it all together I make a light glaze
with a 50/50 mix of GW Reikland Fleshade and
GW Lahmian Medium (19).

12

Pale sections (under the mouth,

shell) :
Very few colors are needed for these areas. I highlight
first with PA Gris Pierre (13) then PA Ivoire (14).
Then a light glaze was added using a 50/50 mix of
GW Seraphim Sepia and GW Lahmian Medium
(15).

16 17

13

14

15 18 19
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CONAN_Compendium_Thog_EN.indd 42 19/04/2018 15:09:06
 The stinger:
The stinger was blended using P3 Skhorne Red (20)
and P3 Khador Red Base (21). Then I added PA
Marron Royal Navy glazes (22), pushing towards
the end of the stinger, finishing with a lightly
thinned paint so that it covered it better. The same
thing was done with P3 Thamr Black (23). The idea
was to have a bright red that stood out.
26 27

Additional colors:
This step is different from the others as it allows
you to add a bit of color (2 in fact,) add more depth to
the model and bring a few more elements together.
I did simple glazes using PA Bleu Sali Foncé (28)
20 21 for the shadows of the body and the bone plates as
well as in the pink areas, like on the tongue and the
stinger. For extremities like the tentacles, tongue
and shoulder tips I applied more opaque layers. The
same thing was done, but only on the ends and not
in the shadows of the body with Coat D’Arms
Noir (29) still reducing the area of paint.
​​
Finally, to finish this stage, I added highlights to
the teeth, spikes, claws and eyes with PA Cam All
22 23 Brun Foncé (29).

The sacks or glands :

The small sacks on the sides, perhaps venom glands,
are first coated with GW Rakarth Flesh (24) then
Daler & Rawney Emerald Green (25) was used to
do the shading. The green helps bring out the red of
the stinger. Once the shading is dry, the sacks are
knocked back with the base color (26) to merge into
the gradient then pulled upward to create the first
highlighted areas. Next PA Ivoire (27) was used to
lighten them, still pulling the pigments upwards
and reducing the highlighted areas.

24 25 28 29
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 Spikes, claws and teeth: piercing the top of the globe and shining through
the inside of the eyeball, illuminating the area
The last elements to be painted, the dorsal spikes, underneath. To do this you will not need many
the claws and the teeth, are coated with PA Terre colors to give it a milky appearance. The base is
Mat (30) and then lightened with PA Beige (31) and done with GW Celestra Grey (33), once dry several
finally PA Ivoire (32). The fact that the spikes are layers of GW Bloodletter Glaze (34) produce a red
more fragile and that the paint on them can easily outline at the base of the eyes. The glaze is, as its
be damaged during handling means they are among name suggests, a glaze. The goal is not to make a
the last areas to be painted. shadow but to give texture to the eyes by producing
red contours reminiscent of the stinger. At the
same time the transparency subtly adds color to
the globes. Be careful not to put too much on them,
otherwise the eyes will look too red. Once dry, I
lighten the bottom of the globe directly with GW
Celestra Gray (35), PA Bleu Gris Clair (36) then
with PA Blanc. (37) Finally, I add a white dot on the
top of the globe to finalize the ensemble.

30 31
33 34

35 36

32

Eyes:
The eyes are among the most important features
as they give the model personality and soul. After
several failed attempts at octopus or cuttlefish-
like pupils I decide to go for glassy eyes, which in
fact connects back to the original concept (thank
you Stéphane N’Guyen for the idea). You have
to imagine them like gemstones with a ray of light
37
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CONAN_Compendium_Thog_EN.indd 44 19/04/2018 15:09:10
 Finishing up:
Once everything has been worked on, I can finish
off the figurine. I like this step because it allows you
to rework each area in both the shadows and the
highlights if need be.

Here are the colors that I used to finalize

Thog:
• The body: PA Bleu Gris Clair then PA Blanc.
• The lighter parts: PA Ivoire PA and PA Blanc.
• The pink parts: P3 Carnal Pink then PA Blanc.
• Spikes, teeth and claws: PA Blanc.
Before painting the base, the figurine was
completely varnished with Tamiya semi-gloss
clear lacquer. It is a good quality Japanese product,
however, be very careful when using it because it is
very toxic - the vapors are quite unpleasant. Spray
in a well-ventilated area and leave it to dry for a
day. The semi-gloss lacquer will give Thog a shiny
and sticky appearance that suits him well. You do
not have to do this if you do not like the shiny look
on models. I think it goes well with the creature as
well as protecting the paint.
The base was coated with PA Cam All Brun Foncé,
brushed with PA Terre Mat then PA Gris Pierre.
Dry earth and red ochre pigments were added
and once dry, a light brushing of PA Gris Pierre
completed the overall look. Finally, the outline
of the base was painted with several layers of P3
Thamar Black.

Now your Thog is ready to sow terror. You can

easily use the same techniques on his cousin -
Thaug.
Hopefully this guide was useful and will inspire
you to be creative!

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 THS : from adventure mode to versus mode

Foreword
This technical article is, first and foremost, The Overlord activation
targeting board gamers with a deep knowledge of rhythm regularity
the THS, the Conan game system. Even for this
audience, this article would likely interest only Although the Overlord could activate 0, 1 or 2 tiles
those who wish to understand the creation process during their turn, in most cases we observed that
of a game system. For every other readership this they consistently activate 2 tiles. This quasi-
article will only be of limited interest. invariability of the number of activations could
be explained because it is the more rational action

From adventure mode to do. In fact, there is no reason to give up one

activation which could cost only one gem. This

to versus mode striving will to maximise the number of activations

tends toward a corollary of saving gems. Actually,
For a long while, I was thinking that the Versus why spend a lot of gems to activate a tile far away
mode would only require two Skelos books put up on the river, if it is possible to activate two other
against each other. It would only be a formality. less expensive tiles?
When we started the first tests I realised the way
to go for this mode would be to offer a game of
interest at least equivalent to the Adventure mode. asymmetry of the number of activations could
The exercise was all the more arduous because be ensured. Strongly embedded (as its Systemic
the two modes had to share the same Systemic Consistency is high since its analogy with THS
Consistency. It was not about adding a system to Energy Cycle) this new cycle has, however, a
another but rather rethinking dialectically the two specificity that distinguishes it from the former
systems in order to feed off each other. Each system and allows it to fulfil its purpose: the marginal
must be as alike as an outgrowth of the other, in growth of its utilisation cost joined to a Recovery
such way it would be impossible to distinguish the Constant (with the second never being ideally
root from the bud. equivalent to the first for the balance between
spending and recovery could be only realised over
The need to desynchronize the a term longer than a turn).
game rhythm: the emergence of Hence, whether to activate a second tile (or even
Activation Potential. a third or a fourth) results from a real arbitration.
Indeed, the savings generated from non-activated
One of the interesting aspects of the Adventure
tiles is substantial enough to impact future game
mode as operated in Conan is based on the
turns, and thus the rhythm of the game. And it is
asymmetric activation rhythm between the two
precisely the notion of game rhythm which was in
sides. One side (the Overlord) turns out to be
balance here.
particularly regular in their number of activations
(cf. Boxed text) while the other side (the Heroes)
The introduction of the Activation Potential
seems to be more arrhythmic. Actually, the number
broke the synchronization between two Overlords.
of activated Heroes during their turn could vary
They are now free to over-consume gems when
greatly (from 0 to 4 activations, with all the possible
needed (e.g. for a charge, to make a special effort).
spectrum empirically covered). Consequently, this
They also could anticipate a future burst of activity
ensures some desynchronization of the action
on the board by hoarding gems.
between the two sides.
In the Versus Mode, an average game lasts
Despite the intrinsic symmetric system of the
around 45-60 minutes for approximately 12 turns
Versus Mode, it was a major concern to keep this
for each player. By calibrating the Recovery
arrhythmia between the opponents. By introducing
Constant to 2 gems in association with an Energy
a new cycle called Activation Potential, the
Pool of 3 immediately available gems and 7 gems in
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 expectation, we empirically tend to 1.5 activations
per turn (with 1 gem cost for the first activation,
The struggle against
2 gems for the second, 3 for the third and 4 for the
fourth, being respectively 1, 3, 6 and 10 gems spent
excessive savings.
for 1, 2, 3 or 4 activations during the same turn). Previously, we mentioned the problem of
Consequently, the number of activations for each the excessive savings into the Overlord gem
game is relatively equivalent between the two management. Saving is not an issue when only
players (about 18 activations for each player in one one of the two players is concerned. However, it
game). But the distribution of the activity peak is becomes more problematic in a mode that only
strongly desynchronised. confronts Skelos books.
Three tools have been implemented in the game
to encourage players to look further down the river
On the following example: the two players have for the units they need:
activated the same amount of tiles during the
whole game (∑ of activations = 18). We can easily 1) Activation Potential anew
observe a great difference between both players
In addition to the arrhythmia it encourages, this
regarding their respective game dynamic.
new cycle tends to increase the average expense
of a tile’s activation. The reason for this is very
simple: because the second activation is no
longer systematic, it becomes useless to consider
activating the first tiles only, in order to save gems
during one turn.

Example of a game dynamic in the Versus Mode.

4
Number of activations

3
Héros
2 Vilain

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
game turn

(*) The Activation Potential could be described as an additional circulation line on the book of Skelos.
10 gems of a new color move along a system of communicating vessels similar to the Energy circulation.
Each turn, a player recovers 2 of these gems. For an umpteenth tile activation, the player has to spend on
this cycle, an equivalent number of gems. Then like on the Adventure Mode, they have to spend gems
on the energy cycle, according to the tile’s position on the river. (cf. diagram at the end of the article).
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 In other words, going from an average of 2 tiles In other words: everything that competes with
activated each turn to 1,5 tiles activated, without a given tile for gem allocation, leads to lower his
decreasing the Energy Recovery Constant (5) activation probability, and all the more if its current
nor the Energy Pool circulating onto the cycle, cost is high. Whether this competition comes from
mechanically generates an inflation of the average other tiles (and the Activation Potential tends
gem expenditure for each activation. to reduce such competition) or it exists in the
form of Punctual Improvements. So, to limit the
allocation’s dilution, the capacity to spend gems on
Punctual Improvement was drastically restrained.
Back to monetary macroeconomics
From the implementation of the exertion limit
basics: MV=PT results an interesting corollary: the necessity of
Those of the readers who have, even vaguely, the arbitration. Since reaching the exertion limit
followed a course in macroeconomics, will for one character comes down to deprive another
ally from a Punctual Improvement.
inevitably remember the Fisher equation:
MV=PT (Money supply in economy x Velocity
of circulation = Price level in the economy x 3) The tiles’ over-specialization
number of Transactions)
Indeed, the Fisher equation exactly explains This is the last, and probably the most powerful,
in the THS the phenomenon consisting of lever used to incite gems’ prodigality. In the
going further in the river to activate the most Conan game, the tiles are only distinct from each
expensive tiles from, as soon as the number of others in degree, or for their skills, but never in
activation is lowered. Every component of the their nature. So, each time a player has to decide
Equation of exchange could be found in the which tile to activate, they undertake an intuitive
THS cycle. calculation to estimate the profitability of each
• The total volume of gems introduced in the gem spent. They may make a decision between
the activation of only one powerful tile but with a
cycle is equivalent to the money supply in
high cost on the river, and the activation of another
the economy. (M)
tile, less powerful, but less costly. The second
• At a macro level, the Recovery Constant option could save gems that can be spent later in
ties in the Velocity of circulation (here for Punctual Improvement to increase the power of
the gems on the Skelos book). Put another the characters used. In other words, as long as the
way; the more game turns have passed, the tiles differ only in degree, the river performs like a
more the average Velocity of circulation is one-dimensional continuum on which each choice
near the Recovery Constant. (V) is too often limited to efficiency maximisation
• The average activation cost for a tile matches (Efficiency/Cost ratio). By strongly specialising
perfectly the Price level. (P) the tiles (attributing some characteristics to some
• The number of tile activations corresponds tiles while depriving other tiles from them) and if
to the number of Transactions. (T) these characteristics are essential to a scenario, the
So, upon the Fisher equation, lowering the one-dimension of the continuum is broken (in fact,
volume of activations (T, here the expectation each time a characteristic is not shared with other
number of activated tiles per turn) could only tiles, an additional dimension is superimposed on
the initial continuum). Basically, in a situation
lead to increasing the average activation cost
where a solution requires a given characteristic,
(P).
it is most probable that the activation of a tile
with this characteristic will be expensive as this
characteristic is rare and must be used frequently.
2) The implementation of In the Batman game, the implementation of such
tile specialisation has gone through the episodic
exertion limit link to Punctual introduction of Thought and Manipulation.
Improvements.
The inflation’s effect described below can only
be fully operational if the remaining gems are not
immediately used for an alternative allocation.
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 The High Variance This is the case of clumsy brutes on a hand to
hand fight, they barely touch their opponents,
Dice appearance but when they do, they are especially deadly. It
could also represent the recoil of heavy firing arms
During the Versus Mode’s first tests, we (Colt 500 or shotgun for example) incapacitating
quickly hit a snag: the major difficulty for the for the precision.
Attacks to overcome the fixed Passive Defense.
We already thought about this problem during the *It is astonishing to note that despite the
development of the Conan Adventure Mode. To astronomical number of games using the dice
avoid it, the Heroes Armour is expressed as dice as a random resolution tool, the Variance (the
(So with a result that may vary) whereas for the expectation of the squares of the deviations of
Overlord units it is expressed as a Constant. The a variable from its mean) remains a dimension a
fixed Defense is not a problem for the Heroes priori strongly absent from the problems of Game
as they can vary the intensity of their attacks design. However it is a powerful simulation tool
in regard to the Defense threshold they have to (cf. above). For a reason that escapes me, most game
overcome. But units cannot increase their attack, authors seem to focus primarily on expected value
so the fixed Defense becomes crippling. The (weighted arithmetic mean), thereby neglecting a
first solution considered was to express all the lot of the information the dice are carrying. But
Defense with dice, like Hero’s Defence. These the Variance is just as interesting to exploit as the
tests immediately reminded me why this option expected value. Furthermore, in the Versus Mode,
was rejected some years earlier: the whole game the Variance is overriding, as since increasing it
was weighed down because of continuous dice without changing the expected value could lead
rolls, which impeded its fluidity substantially. to open the spectrum of results (increasing the
It would also be possible to simply increase the dispersion measured below by the coefficient of
damage done by each tile without increasing their variation). This allows one to overcome the fixed
Defense at the same time. In doing so, the fixed Passive Defense. Thus, we introduced 2 new dice,
Defense would be overcome more frequently... Black and White, corresponding respectively to a
except that the Adventure Mode would have been Red and Yellow dice with polarised distributions.
strongly impacted, resulting in the Heroes being
slaughtered. In reaction, to re-equilibrate the game,
the number of Overlord units should be lowered
when opposed to the Heroes, what I refuse to do
(it seems to me that one of the major interest of the
Adventure Mode lies in the asymmetry, a handful
of Heroes facing a horde of villains). It took some
time before the solution appeared by itself in front
of a cup of coffee: if it was impossible to change the
expectations under pain of denaturing the game,
on the other hand it was quite possible to work on
the dispersion around these expectations...

(*) The impossibility for the Overlord to increase

their attack power with Punctual Improvements,
contributes to limit the arbitration between tiles
as stated earlier in the text. If we authorise such
an improvement, we mechanically reduce the
interest to go further in the river to choose a tile
at high cost rather than activating the first one
and improving its power.

(**) The huge dispersion around the expectation

(the polarisation of the ventilation of the power
on the dice) simulates perfectly the characters
and weapons with low precision but high power.
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 The five dice are presented in the table below:

Coefficient of
Dice Distribution Expected value Variance
Variation*

White 0-0-0-0-2-2 0,66 0,88 142%

Yellow 0-0-0-1-1-2 0,66 0,55 112%

Orange 0-0-1-1-2-2 1 0,66 81%

Red 0-1-1-2-2-3 1,5 0,92 64%

Black 0-0-0-1-4-4 1,5 3,25 120%

*The Coefficient of Variation is defined as the Standard Deviation to the Mean. It measures the dispersion around the
Expected Value.

Now let see how these dice combinations perform against fixed Passives Defenses.

Erratic profile versus stable profile for Goon units.

80
Probability in % to overcome a defense.

60

2 Yellow dice
40
2 White dice

20

0 1 2 3
Defense

The graph above and on the left are respectively typical attack profile for Goons and Leaders.

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 Erratic profile versus stable profile for the Leaders.
120
Probability in % to overcome a defense

100

80
2 Red dice
60
2 Black dice
40

20

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Defense

A simple glance at the graphs above shows

that, regardless the attacker’s profile (Goons or
Conclusion
Leader), the high dispersion configuration remains Those who are still reading these lines will
more advantageous when a threshold is overcome. understand that the work on the THS leaves little
In case of the Goons’ profile, whenever there is room for chance and improvisation. Adding a new
a Defense (1 or more), the attacker substantially game mode is never trivial, but rather requires a
benefits from an attack with high variance (a systematic global rebuilding of the system outside
low variance attack is only an advantage while of any particular game mode. Adding a new game
facing creatures without any defense, such as mode without rethinking the whole system in
dogs). For Leaders’ profiles, as they are depicted its entirety would put aside important notions
here, after 2 Passive Defense points have been like Systemic Consistency or Integration. The
reached, the curves never meet again. It is worth Systemic dimension is far from being anecdotal.
noting the importance of such a gain: for a Goon It is, in fact, consubstantial to what a game is.
configuration, the probability to overcome a 1 point The Systemic dimension is opposed to a bricolage
Passive Defense is 33% higher for a high dispersion consisting of stacking games mechanics, for a
configuration than for a classic configuration. This functional game but without unity (I.e. endowed
probability becomes four times higher, when the to an endogenous logic with the principle of all
target has 3 points of Passive Defense. In the same the actions covered by the system). Without this
vein, a Leader configuration with a high dispersion founding principle of the Systemic Consistency,
turns out to be 55% more efficient to overcome a 3 the Versus Mode would have only been a second
point Passive Defense than a classic configuration game standing alongside the Adventure Mode. But
(increasing the efficiency from 36% to 56%). For it had to be more. The two modes have to be both
a 4 point Passive Defense, the 8-percentage- sides of a same coin, like twins sharing the same
points-gap between classic and high dispersion DNA and evolving in different environments.
configuration represent a 57% advantage. Facing
5 point Passive Defense, the erratic configuration
is four time more efficient. Beyond that point,
overcoming the armour is nearly impossible for
the classic configuration, while it is still probable
(>10%) for the high dispersion configuration.

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 Activation Potential Cycle: increasing marginal cost and Recovery Constant.
Initial State
1st activation
2nd activation

3rd activation

4th activation
Recovery

thog

The darkness begins to take form. Something the touch of it on your naked flesh. It is neither
huge and bulky grows up out of the void. You see warm nor cold, rough nor smooth; it is like nothing
a great misshapen head emerging into the light. that has ever touched you before, and at its caress
At least you take it for a head, though it is not you know such fear and shame as you have never
the member of any sane or normal creature. You dreamed of. All the obscenity and salacious infamy
see a great toad-like face, the features of which are spawned in the muck of the abysmal pits of Life
as dim and unstable as those of a specter seen in seem to drown you in seas of cosmic filth. And in
a mirror of nightmare. Great pools of light that this instant you know that whatever form of life
might be eyes blink at you, and you shake at the this thing represents it is not a beast.
cosmic lust reflected there. You can tell nothing
about the creature’s body. Its outline seems to His name is Thog, the Ancient, the god of
waver and alter subtly even as you look at it; yet Xuthal, dweller of the sunken dome in the center of
its substance is apparently solid enough. There is the city. He had always dwelt in Xuthal. Whether
nothing misty or ghostly about it. he arrived with the ancient founders, or was there
when they built the city, none knows. But the
As it comes towards you, you cannot tell people of Xuthal worshipped him. For countless
whether it is walking, wriggling, flying or generations Thog satisfied his lust and hunger by
creeping. Its method of locomotion is absolutely choosing victims from among them. So, when the
beyond your comprehension. When it emerges last of the city ’s inhabitants were extinguished by
from the shadows you are still uncertain as to its his voracious appetite, this nightmarish shadow
nature. Impossible as it seems, the being seems slipped away to another part of the world in search
almost impervious to the light. Its details are of new prey; and that prey may just be you.
still obscure and indistinct, even when it halts so
near that it almost touches your shrinking flesh. Story by Pallantides.
Only the blinking toad-like face stands out with
any distinctness. The thing is a blur in the sight,
a black blot of shadow that normal radiance would
neither dissipate nor illuminate.

You are unable to say whether the dim repulsive

face is blinking up at you from the shadows at
your feet, or looking down at you from an immense
height. But your sight convinces you that
whatever its mutable qualities, it is yet composed
of solid substance, and your sense of feel further
assures you of that fact. A dark tentacle-like
member slides about your body and you scream at
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